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Teenage Pace Sensation Tipped For Australia GREATNESS: ‘He’s Got Skills You Can’t Teach’
Follow UsHe is 19 but already has clocked over 150 kph multiple times
19-year-old Callum Vidler had played all of two first-class matches before the Sheffield Shield Final on March 26 (Wednesday), but the teenager announced himself to the world in sensational fashion in the finale, scalping four wickets while tormenting the South Australia batters with his raw pace.
Vidler was one of Australia’s best performers at the 2024 U19 World Cup, and come the Shield Final, he bowled a remarkable spell on day one, taking out both of SA’s capped batters in Nathan McSweeney and Alex Carey.
It is one thing taking wickets, but what really stands out about Vidler is his raw pace, with the youngster having already breached the 150 kph mark multiple times in his extremely young career. His pace was evident at the 2024 U19 WC too, where he ran through batting line-ups.
“He's got that thing you can't teach which is absolute pace, and I think he's impressed a lot of people with what he's done and he certainly takes wickets,” Queensland’s Jimmy Peirson said of Vidler.
"I think it's exciting for Cricket Australia as well, seeing someone like that coming through and bowling that sort of pace. He's pretty regularly in the 140 (kph range), sometimes pushing high 140s.
"He's learning about his body and sometimes one comes out 135, so it's one of those things that as he gets older I think he's going to be an absolute beauty for Queensland.
"And hopefully we don't see him too much, he goes and plays for Australia bowling some pretty good speeds,” he added.
Vidler also got plenty of praise from his opponents. SA’s Brendan Doggett, who himself took a six-fer in the first innings as Queensland got rolled over for 95, was full of praise for the fiery young quick.
"I love him, he looks good," Doggett said of Vidler.
"He's fast and wiry and aggressive. I don’t want to face him, but Queensland's got a winner there in him for sure."
Vidler, as it stands, has taken 11 FC wickets in 5 innings. He’s also taken 5 wickets in just 2 List A games for Queensland.